Controversial me? I am what I am, says Malawi lawmaker Nawena

Thyolo Thava Member of Parliament Lilfred Nawena has refused to take the “controversial” tag, saying he was only a politician who proclaims the truth.

Nawena, a former university of Malawi lecturer, attracts the description of ‘controversial’ from the media.

But when he was featured on Capital FM Radio’s Straight Talk programme, he said could not accept that he was controversial.

“I don’t know if I am controversial, all I try to do is to tell the nation the truth about anything,” said the free-speaking lawmaker.

Asked by the radio host Rhodes Msonkho to describe himself, Nawena said: “I don’t know how to describe myself. I have never taken any trouble to look at myself to describe myself.”

Nawena: I am what I am

He added: “All I know is I am what I am, period.”

Nawena said he was only interest ted with matters of national interest, saying people would be the best judges on his character.

The law maker who was fired from Malawi’s former ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) recently announced he has rejoined the party and asked Speaker of the National Assembly Henry Chimunthu Banda to allocate him a seat for him in the opposition benches.

“DPP is the only party in this country that has a vision for the nation,” Nawena said during Straight Talk interview.

Nawena came into Parliament as an Independent operating on the government side, but later joined the DPP, although he was always critical of former president Bingu wa Mutharika’s administration.

At the peak of the Mutharika’s government, he was one of the MPs who fell out of grace with the DPP and had been one of the sympathisers of the then Vice-President Joyce Banda. After the change of government, Nawena remained on the government side with the new ruling PP.

He has since hinted that he will seek re-election in his constituency on DPP ticket of he gets the nod during primary elections.